Apologies were received from Cllrs Barrell, Carter, Mrs Coe and Faragher.

No declarations were made at this point.

Members were reminded that the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) considered by Policy, Finance and Resources Committee on 15 December 2015 provided an update on the various significant changes that would impact on the Council’s financial position following announcements made since the General Election in May 2015 and the Autumn Statement in November 2015. Particular issues highlighted, relevant to the General Fund, included the phasing out of the Revenue Support Grant, changes to the New Homes Bonus & the Business Rates Retention schemes and the creation of Combined Authorities.

The fundamental principles of the Council’s MTFP are to:

(i)           Maintain a sustainable financial position against a background of unprecedented financial uncertainty and reduced government funding, including the delivery of efficiency targets.

(ii)          Support the vision of our Borough through appropriate identification of resources required to deliver the key priorities outlined in the ‘Vision for Brentwood’.

(iii)         Maximise opportunities and mitigate risks associated with the fundamental change to the way in which local government is financed.

The report before Members considered:

(i)               The General Fund budget proposals for 2016/17 to 2018/19.

(ii)             The Capital Programme 2016/17 to 2018/19.

(iii)            The Treasury Management & Investment Strategy for 2016/17.

The Leader of the Council and Chair of Policy, Finance and Resources Committee, Cllr Mrs McKinlay, introduced the proposed budget for 2016/17 and MOVED the recommendations in the report which Cllr Kerslake SECONDED. 

Cllr Aspinell, as leader of the major opposition group, responded to the Leader’s statement.

Two sets of amendments had been submitted in accordance with Rule 3.15 of the Council’s Procedure Rules, totalling five amendments.  Details of all amendments received were included in Supplement 3 to the agenda and are appended to these minutes for information.

Cllr Kerslake MOVED and Cllr Hirst SECONDED the AMENDMENT received from the Conservative Group which added ‘and Table 7.1” , such Table 7.1 being included in the amendment , and Cllr Mrs McKinlay ACCEPTED the amendment.

Cllr Barrett MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED the first AMENDMENT submitted by the Labour Group which Mrs McKinlay did not accept, however she expressed her interest in further exploration.

Following a debate a vote was taken on a show of hands and the AMENDMENT was LOST.

Cllr Barrett MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED the second AMENDMENT submitted by the Labour Group which Mrs McKinlay did not accept.

Following a debate a vote was taken on a show of hands and the AMENDMENT was LOST.

Cllr Barrett MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED the third AMENDMENT submitted by the Labour Group which Mrs McKinlay did not accept.

Following a debate a vote was taken on a show of hands and the AMENDMENT was LOST.

Cllr Barrett MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED the fourth AMENDMENT submitted by the Labour Group which Mrs McKinlay did not accept.

Following a debate a vote was taken on a show of hands and the AMENDMENT was LOST.

Cllr Barrett MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED the fifth AMENDMENT submitted by the Labour Group which Mrs McKinlay did not accept.

Following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 362.

The report before Members considered the Medium Term Financial Plan for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

The report also included results of the tenant consultation and the consideration of the Environment & Housing Management Committee concerning the proposed rent charges for 2016/17.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Hossack SECONDED the recommendations and following a discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Procedure Rule 9.6 of the Council’s Constitution.

Cllr Chilvers left the meeting before the vote was taken.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Aspinell, Barrett, Clark, Cloke, Mrs Davies, Mrs Henwood, Hirst, Mrs Hones, Hossack, Mrs Hubbard, Keeble, Kendall, Kerslake, McCheyne, Mrs McKinlay, Morrissey, Mrs Murphy, Mynott, Newberry, Parker, Poppy, Mrs Pound, Reed, Ms Rowlands, Russell, Ms Sanders, Mrs Slade, Sleep, Mrs Squirrell, Tee Trump and Wiles (32)

AGAINST:  0

ABSTAIN: 0

Members RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.     To approve the HRA Business Plan for 2016/17 and beyond as shown in Appendix C of this report.

2.     To agree a 1% decrease in rents for General Need Housing for 2016/17 and for the following 3 years.

3.     To agree to freeze the rents for Supported Housing for 2016/17 and then apply a 1% decrease for the following 3 years as outlined in paragraph 4.18.

4.     To agree to freeze the proposed Service Charges for 2016/17 for tenants.

5.     To agree to apply the formula rent to all new tenancies from April 2016/17.

6.     To agree the Fees and Charges proposed at Environment and Housing Management Committee on 9 December 2015 (attached as Appendix A).

7.     To note the Section 151 Officer’s Assurance Statement on the robustness of the estimates and adequacy of the reserves.

(Cllrs Barrett, Mrs Squirrell and Wiles each declared an interest in relation to this item but the Monitoring Officer advised that the pecuniary interest for each Member was insignificant and therefore they should not be excluded from the debate).

Reasons for recommendation

Effective financial management underpins all of the priorities for the Council.

The Council is required to compile a budget which collates all the income and expenditure relating to the Council’s housing stock. The Council is also required to agree the rent levels and notify tenants of any changes to their rents.

The Council was the billing authority for the Borough of Brentwood and was required to set a Council Tax that would not only cover its own requirements, but also those of Essex County Council, Police and Crime Commissioner, Fire Authority and the Parish Councils.

The Council Tax  requirements for 2016/17 were outlined as follows:

Council Tax Requirements

A schedule of the Parish Precepts was attached as Appendix B to the report.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendations in the report and following a discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Procedure Rule 9.6 of the Council’s Constitution.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Cloke, Mrs Henwood, Hirst, Mrs Hones, Hossack, Kerslake, McCheyne, Mrs McKinlay, Mrs Murphy, Parker, Poppy, Mrs Pound, Reed,

Ms Rowlands, Russell, Ms Sanders, Mrs Slade, Sleep, Tee, Trump and Wiles (21)

AGAINST:  Cllrs Aspinell, Barrett, Clark, Mrs Davies, Mrs Hubbard, Keeble, Kendall, Morrissey, Mynott and Newberry (10)

ABSTAIN: (0)

The MOTION was CARRIED  and it was RESOLVED as follows:

1.    That the Council approves the formal Council Tax resolution for Brentwood Borough Council and Parishes as contained in Appendix A to the report, as follows:

Formal Council Tax (Brentwood Borough Council and Parishes) Resolution 2016-17

1.    That it be noted that at its meeting on 27 January 2016 Ordinary Council approved the calculation of the following amounts as the Council’s Tax Base for 2016/17 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012:

a)    for the whole Council area as 31,790 (item “T” in the formula in section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (“the Act”)), and

b)    for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as follows

2.    That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2016/17 (excluding Parish precepts) be calculated as £5,504,121.

3.    That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2016/17 in accordance with Sections 30 to 36 of the Act:

a)        £46,028,070  being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council

estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act  taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

b)        £40,135,540  being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council

estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

c)         £5,892,530    being the amount by which the aggregate at 3a) above

exceeds the aggregate at 3b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (item “R” in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

d)        £185.36         being the amount at 3c)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 364.

An item of business may only be considered where the Chair is of the opinion that, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the Minutes, the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2016/17

1.     Proposed by the Conservative Group:

2.    Recommendations

2.1    To approve the General Fund - Revised MTFP for 2016/17 as shown in Table 8 at paragraph 5.8 which includes the proposed savings targets and associated detail as shown in Table 7 and Table 7.1 at paragraph 5.7 of this report.

2.2    To approve the proposed Capital Programme and Funding totalling £23.7 million for 2016/17 to 2018/19 as set out in Tables 14 and 15 of this report.

2.3      To approve the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy as set out in Section 10 of this report.

2.4         To note the Section 151 Officer’s Assurance Statement as set out in Section 11 of this report.

Table 7.1 - Proposed Savings - Detail

Ordinary Council meeting 2 March 2016 – Proposed amendments from the Labour Group

Amendment 1 - Business Rates

The Brentwood Business Challenge

To establish the Brentwood Local Business Challenge, a locally determined Business Rates scheme, at a cost of £20,000 that will create a reduction of £50,000 in Business Rates for the successful geographic area to increase business confidence and encourage development. The scheme will focus on small, retail businesses.

Total reductions in Business Rates: £50,000

Brentwood Borough  ...  view the full minutes text for item 365.